Editing Valinor (section)

==History==
{{further|Cosmology of Middle-earth|History of Arda}}

===Years of the Trees===

[[File:Arda in the Years of the Trees.svg|thumb|upright=2|Valinor in the Years of the Trees, lit by the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]]; the rest of Arda, including [[Middle-earth]], lay in darkness. The outlines of the continents are purely schematic.]]

{{further|Two Trees of Valinor}}

Valinor is first established on the western continent Aman when Melkor (a Vala later named Morgoth, "the black foe", by the Elves) destroys the Valar's original home on the island Almaren in primeval Middle-earth, ending the [[Years of the Lamps]].<ref name="Of the Beginning of Days" group=T/> To defend their new home from attack, they raise the Pelóri Mountains.<ref name="Of the Beginning of Days" group=T/> They also establish Valimar, the future dwelling place of many of Aman’s Elven residents, such as the Vanyar,  a more major the radiant Two Trees, and their dwelling-places.<ref name="Of the Beginning of Days" group=T/><ref name="Of Aulë and Yavanna" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=ch. 2 "Of Aulë and Yavanna"}}</ref> Valinor is said to surpass Almaren in beauty.<ref name="Of the Beginning of Days" group=T/> Later, the Valar hear of the [[Elf (Middle-earth)#Origins|awakening of the Elves]] in Middle-earth, where Melkor is unopposed. They propose to bring the Elves to the safety of Valinor, but to do that, they need to get Melkor out of the way. A war is fought, and Melkor's stronghold Utumno is destroyed. Then, many Elves come to Valinor, and establish their cities Tirion and Alqualondë, beginning Valinor's age of glory. Melkor comes back to Valinor as a prisoner, and after three Ages is brought before the Valar; he sues for pardon, vowing to assist the Valar and make amends for the hurts he has done. Manwë grants him pardon, but confines him within Valmar to remain under watch.<ref name="Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor" group=T/> After his release, Melkor starts planting seeds of dissent in the minds of the Elves, including between Fëanor and his brothers [[Fingolfin]] and Finarfin. Fëanor uses some of the light of the Two Trees to forge the three [[Silmarils]], beautiful, unmarrable, and irreplaceable jewels.<ref name="Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor" group=T/>

=== The Darkening of Valinor===

Belatedly, the Valar learn what [[Melkor]] has done. Knowing that he is discovered, Melkor goes to the home of the Noldor's High King [[Finwë]], kills him and steals the Silmarils. He then destroys the Two Trees with the help of [[Ungoliant]], plunging Valinor into darkness, the Long Night, relieved only by stars. Melkor and Ungoliant flee to Middle-earth.<ref name="Of the Darkening of Valinor" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}},  ch. 8 "Of the Darkening of Valinor"</ref>

===The Hiding of Valinor===
[[File:Downfall of Númenor.svg|thumb|upright=2.5|The Downfall of [[Númenor]] and the Changing of the World.{{sfn|Shippey |2005|pp=324–328}} The outlines of the continents are purely schematic.]]

The Valar manage to save one last luminous flower from one of the Two Trees, Telperion, and one last luminous fruit from the other, Laurelin. These become the Moon and the Sun. The Valar carry out further titanic labours to improve the defences of Valinor. They raise the Pelóri mountains to even greater and sheerer heights. Off the coast, eastwards of Tol Eressëa, they create the Shadowy Seas and their Enchanted Isles; both the Seas and the Isles present numerous perils to anyone attempting to get to Valinor by sea.<ref name="Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor" group=T/>

=== Later history ===

For centuries, Valinor take no part in the struggles between the Noldor and Morgoth in Middle-earth. But near the end of the [[First Age]], when the Noldor are in total defeat, the mariner [[Eärendil]] convinces the Valar to make a last attack on Morgoth. A mighty host of Maiar, Vanyar and the remaining Noldor in Valinor destroy Morgoth's gigantic army and his stronghold [[Angband (Middle-earth)|Angband]], and cast Morgoth into the void.<ref name="Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, ch. 24 "Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"</ref>

During the [[Second Age]], the Valar create the island of [[Númenor]] as a reward to the [[Edain]], Men who had fought alongside the Noldor. Centuries later the kingdom of Númenor grows so powerful and so arrogant that Ar-Pharazôn, the twenty-fifth and last king, dares to attempt an invasion of Valinor. When the creator [[Eru Ilúvatar]] responds to the call of the Valar, Númenor sinks into the sea, and Aman is removed beyond the reach of the Men of Arda. Arda itself becomes spherical, and is left for Men to govern. The Elves can go to Valinor only by the [[Straight Road]] and in ships capable of passing out of the spheres of the earth.<ref name="Akallabêth" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, "Akallabêth"</ref>{{sfn|Shippey|2005|pp=324–328}}